Flush-water regulator



Jan. 7, 1930.

J. R. SMITH FLUSH WATER REGULATOR Filed Jan. 19, 1928 INVENTOR) J57?) 71? ,8 772 27%- WATTORNEYD.

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l JOHN R. SMITH,,OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FLUSH-WATER nEGULA'roa Application fil ed January 19, 1928. Serial No. 247,931.

This invention relates to means for automatically regulatingthe supply. of flushing water to sewer wells in which are employed timing of flushes bymechanism of very simplecharacter, of low cost,of automatiooporation and wholly devoid of sensitive springs and diaphragmsand other delicate mechanicalelements, and an object is to provide an automatic regulator whose parts are of strong and rigid'character and capable of being coordinated inan organization readily by an inexpert attendant by reason ofabsence of intricate mechanism. p v The principle involved is the utilization of a hydrostatic head on inflexible and nonyielding parts whereby is accomplished the highly accurate periodic flush of a sewer,

though obviouslythe apparatus is not confined solely to this definiteuse.

Other objects, advantages and featuresof construction, combination and details of means'will be made manifest in the ensuing description of the herewith illustrative em bodiment of apparatus it being understood, that modifications, variations and a'dapta-" tions may be resorted to within the spirit, scope and principle ofthe invention as herein- Figure 1 is aside elevatlon-andvertical section of theregulator. Figure 2 isa detail 1 W --desired-fixed period of intermittent fius 1 can Anotherobis highly important in aridregions because vertical section of the hydrostatic head col umn and thescavenger. Figure 3 is atop be determined and the present invention consists of means for thus accurately regulating the infiow of flushing water.

The apparatusincludes means to open and close a main water supply valve to obtain a constant rate of flow to the sewer well irrespective and regardless of the fluctuating head of water (or pressure) in the main supply system and valve. r

The illustrated apparatus incorporates a water main M having a discharge valve V whose plug is actuated by a lever L having an adjustable weight Z set according to the range of pressure to be met in the main M.

When the valve V is open it feeds water to a hydrostatic pan 2 which is suspended by abeam lever 3having a knife-edge bearing 4 one fixed-support 5. The beam. 3carries an adjustable counter-poise 6somewhat overbalancingthe discharged pan 2 and also capa bio of liftingthe valve lever L so as to open the valve.

",A lost motionlink 7, on the beam 3, allows thebeam to attain a desired momentum prior to engaging and lifting the valve lever and action.

The panflhas provision for a constant leak or dischargeof the water at a predetermined rate and an obj ect of the invention is to provide means for eifectually keeping the leak aperture or apertures: free from such obstacles and secretions as would tend to interfere with the desired constancy of rate of flow from the pan.

Another important control feature provides for maintaining as uniform a head of Water in the discharge column outlets as is practicableand. yet obtain automatic, uniform rate of discharge.

Extending down from thebottom of the panQ/is what may be called a hydrostatic column 10 having a fixed bottom closure or block 11 having outlet bores 12 which are slightly larger indiameter than scavenging rodsor dragsl3 which snugly slide in fixed guides 14: serving to hold the rods concentrically in the'borel2. a I l The pan has, preferably, a large" horizon tal area at the mean level of water at the top therefore opens the valvewith a quick, full of the water column head (line H) so that a small variation of level in the pan will be sufiicient to underbalance the beam poise 6 and allow it to open the valve V when the desired low level is reached in the pan 2 because of the constant leaking of the Water at the bores 12.

When the valve opens the water is supplied to the pan faster than its rate of leak from the column and the accumulated volume in the pan will be effective to pull down the main beam 3 and this will release the valve lever L and the valve will close.

The period of discharge will determine the frequency of valve action.

Since the accumulated supply of water in the pan spreads out over a large area its head variation is quite small and hence the variation of supply head in the pan will not materially affect the restricted rate of discharge from the column 10. This,'obviously, contributes to the accuracy of periodic valve action in time sequence.

The function of the rods 13 is to act as drag breakers or scavengers to keep a constant clearance or opening in the bores 12 for the out flow of water. It is obvious that where no means is employed to keep open the water passage this will become clogged either by foreign obstacles flowing in or by accretions formed from one agent or another.

The cleanin rods 13 are attached to a push rod 15 adjusta ble in length by a turn buckle 16 and suspended by an arm 17 pivoted on a bracket 18. The arm 17 is connected by a link 19 to the beam 3. When the pan moves up or down this motion is relative to the cleaner rods 13. These rods are provided with collecting grooves 13' having sharp top shoulders to cut or rake in encountered accretions. By attaching the push rod 15 to the arm 17 the relative motion of the rods 13 to the block 11 will be snfiicient to pass the grooves 13' to a point below the bottom of the leak bores 12 so that the collected material may be washed off by the dripping water.

It will be seen that the rate of drain, under a given head in the pan 2, will be determined by the clearance in the outlet bores 12, that the bores will be regularly wiped by the rods 13 at given intervals concurrently with the opening and closing of the water valve. It will be noticed that the draining means is valveless.

The filling period is determined by the feed valve V and the regulator action istimed wholly by the column outlet bores 12 of which a plurality is preferred so that should any one become clogged water will drain past the others and insure the ultimate draining of the anand the sequential action of the poiseeam 3. When this action occurs the clogged bore 12 will be opened by reason of relative drag stroke of its rod 13.

Adjustment of the water head H can be quickly and roughly made by raising or lowering the drain block 11 and then fine counterpoise adjustment is made by shifting the poise 6 on the beam 3.

To exclude air pockets the column 10 has a bottom trap 20 whose length will be coordinated with the desired head H.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for regulating flow of flushing water to a sewer well, including a water supply valve, and means to automatically open the valve at desired intervals and including a water pan receiving water from the valve and having constantlyopen self-clearing drains, and means operatively connecting the pan and the valve to open the valve when the pan water falls to a givenvolume. 2. Means for regulating flow of flushing water to a sewer well, including a water supply valve, means to automatically open the valve and including a water pan having constantly open water drains and operating connections between the pan and the valve, and drag means working in the drains automatically keeping them clear.

3. Means for regulating flow of water to a sewer well, including a water supply valve, a water pan receiving water from the valve and operatively connected therewith, said pan having constantly open drains, cleaning drags mounted in the drains, and means for automatically actuating the drags. 4. A regulating apparatus for liquid flow, including a liquid valve, a pan receiving liquid from the valve and having constantly open drains with operative clearing means, means combined with the pan to control action of the valve andoperative by changes of volume of liquid in the pan.

5. A regulating apparatus for liquid flow, including a water valve, a pan receiving water from the valve, means for maintaining a constantly open drain in the pan and including a drain scavenger, and operating connections between the pan and the valve.

6. A regulating apparatus for sewer flushing water, including a water valve, a pan receiving water therefrom, constantly open drain means for the pan, drag rods in the drain means to keep the same clear, a lever for the valve, a counter-poise beam by which the pan is poised, and an operating connection between the valve lever and said beam; said beam being controlled by variation of Water volume in the pan.

'7. A pan having a hydrostatic column with restricted liquid outlets which are constantly open, means to drag the outlets to keep them clear, a liquid suppl valve, and means suspending the pan an operatively connecting the valve and said pan and controlled by variation of liquid in the pan.

8. A pan having a hydrostatic column with restricted water outlets which are constantly open, means to drag the outlets to keep them open, a Water supply valve, means suspending and counterpoising the pan and operatively connecting the valve and the pan, and an operating connection between said means and the drag means.

9. Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a hydrostatic column with a drain and means in the drain to scaven e it; said drain and means for scavenging eing relatively operative.

10. Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a draining hydrostatic column, and means for clearing the column drain.

11. Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a draining hydrostatic column,

means for moving the column, and means for clearing the column drain.

12. Means for regulating liquid flow ineluding an openingdrain, hydrostatic column, and means Working in the drain to keep it clear. g

18. Means for regulating liquid fiow including a hydrostatic column having an open drain, a clearing drag in the column, and

i means for operating the column and the drag.

14 Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a hydrostatic column having a drain, a clearing device in the drain, and means for operating said device.

15. Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a hydrostatic column having a drain, means to clear the drain, and an operative device suspending the column and the v V clearing means. i

y 5 16. Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a hydrostatic column havin a drain, means to clear the drain, and means or supporting said column and clearing means and effecting relative action thereof.

6 17. Means for maintainingconstantliquid flow including a draining hydrostatic column,

means to clear the drain thereof, and means for supporting said column and said clearing means and being operative by changes of head i of said column.

a 18. Means for maintaining constant liquid flow including a draining hydrostatic column, means to clear the drain thereof, and means for supporting said column and said clearing means and being operative by changes of head of said column and effecting a relative action of said column and said clearing means.

19. A variable head, hydrostatic column having a constantly open drain, means to drag i the drain, and means counterpoising the column and controlled operatively by the column head.

20. A deviceas set forth in claim 19 and having means operatively connecting the counterpoise means and the clearing means.

JOHN B. SMITH. 

